The operating system's purpose is to interact with the user. One of his functionality is to anticipate user's needs and use various methods to recover in case of system failure. To achieve this, the operating system during his daily functioning, collects and stores important data. He uses different methods for different actions. For Browsing it saves all visited web pages. The purpose is, if you want to access them again, they will load faster. If major changes take place, like a driver installation, the system creates a system restore point. In case you experience issues after this action, you have the option to restore to a previous time. The variety of today's programs can create various problems and lets not forget about malicious software which were specially created to destabilize your operating system. All these factors put together affect your overall computer performance. To gain back your system performance we recommend erasing certain files to free disk space, checking system's files and partition to improve system's reliability, analyzing and reducing disk fragmentation to optimize disk space. To increase the overall time of computer maintenance you can choose between the command line method and normal method. We believe the method using command prompt is faster then the normal one, because you can just select the whole command line, right click on the selected area,click Copy, then right click on your command prompt window and choose Paste in order to copy it. However, we recommend to choose the one you feel most comfortable with. Also for backup reasons we added for every method detailed articles with pictures, you can access them by clicking on the operating system logo. In order to open a Command Prompt window please go to Start and choose Run ...

Clean/Reset your browser A browser is a software application which helps you to load the websites you love so much. There are a variety of browsers available for navigating the world wide web (www). Most popular ones are Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Netscape and Safari. In time your browser performance decreases due to several reasons: add-ons, toolbars, plug-ins, etc. Toolbars, how did they arrive on your computer? Now a days almost each software comes with a toolbar which is mentioned during installation process and it's added to your browser. One toolbar is not a lot, but in time by installing more applications you will find your self with at least 5 or 6 toolbars. A massive amount of toolbars will decrease your screen view and browsing performance. Each browser has a cache folder where it stores copies of accessed web content. The purpose of this folder is to increase your network performance. When you access a web page which has been accessed before it will be loaded it from cache. This technique has a downside, the cache content increases filling your hard drive with unwanted files. This means less space for your system. Toolbars, add-ons and stored internet files lead to poor navigation experience. A quick resolution is to reset your browser back to default settings. This procedure removes all customizations done to the browser: removes your homepage settings, disables all add-ons and toolbars, erases your browsing history,deletes all saved accounts and passwords and changes your security settings to default mode. Basically after this step, you start with a fresh copy of your browser.Note: Bookmarks or favorites will not be affected by this procedure. Clean your temporary files following these steps:

Please go to Start and choose Run ...Write services.msc and press okPlease find and open Automatic Update serviceIn Automatic Updates Properties please Stop Automatic Update serviceNow go to Start and choose Run ...Write C:\WINDOWS and press okNow locate SoftwareDistribution right click on it and select RenameChange the name to SoftwareDistribution.oldNow go back to Automatic Updates Properties window and Start the serviceAfter the service is started a new SoftwareDistribution directory is created and now you can deleteSoftwareDistribution.oldPlease Confirm Folder Delete

Check your system files integrity Also integrated in your operating system is the System File Checker Tool. It's a very useful and powerful tool to restore corruptions in your windows system's files. Why do we need to use it? During every day use we install several programs which need access to system files; they may need to modify them or even overwrite them. This tool was created like a security measure to protect critical system files. Every change is tracked by the system and a spare copy of the initial file is saved. Like this,your system protects him self from malicious attacks, corruptions or several other problems. The tool is very easy to use, you just need to start the checking process. If any critical files are damaged they will be restored automatically. Check your system files integrity following these steps:

Using CMD

In the Command Prompt window please select, copy and paste the following command:sfc /scannowPlease press Enter to executeNote: This command, depending of your operating system, will ask for windows installation cdPlease provide your installation cdIf you don`t have your installation cd, move down the window that will ask for the cd and click Cancel first on windows verification windowConfirm that you want to cancel the operation

Run a disk error checkup Your hard disk might have errors or corruption in the file or directory structure. They can be produced by several causes: system freezes, inappropriate shut downs or power outages. The check disk command will inspect your hard drive volumes and repair problems related to bad sectors, lost clusters, cross-linked files, and directory errors. It will repair automatically any found errors. Mainly we recommend to run a check disk for your system partition. Because the partition is in use, this check will be done next time when the computer restarts. The process takes a while but it makes sure your disk is healthy. A regular disk checkup is part of a good system maintenance. Check your system files integrity following these steps:

Please go to Start and open My ComputerRight on your windows partition and choose PropertiesIn Properties window please go to Tools tab and press on Check Now... buttonIn Check Disk Local Disk window please check Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors boxes and click on Start buttonBecause this is your system partition you will be informed that this utility will run on the next restart.Please confirm the pop-up

Defragment your disk drive volumes Another useful tool is Disk Defragmenter Utility. All files that are stored on your hard disk are physically organized in contiguous or in smaller fragments. Accessing fragmented files is slower then accessing content from a contiguous region. By defragmenting the disk, we reduce the time to read and write data. Another advantage is that it will speed up your system startup time. A regular defragmention will maintain your disk performance. Check your system files integrity following these steps:

Using CMD

In the Command Prompt window please select, copy and paste the following command:dfrg.mscPlease press Enter to executePlease select your system partition and press Defragment

We hope these computer maintenance tips will keep your computer running smoothly and at peak capacity.Note: If you notice anything you don't like after you have finished the maintenance steps, you can use System restore to return to a previous state. You can use the System restore point created when you have begun the Computer Maintenance procedure.However, if you have problems with your computer, feel free to ask for help on our Forum or send us an email at admin@computerstepbystep.com

Please go to Start and choose Run ...Write %temp% and press okIn the Temp folder please go to Tools and select Folder OptionsIn the Folder Options window please go to the View tab, select Show hidden files and folders anddeselect Hide extensions for known file typesTo deselect Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) please confirm the the Warning window. Press OK to close Folders Options window.Please select the first file from the folder TempPlease use Ctrl+A keyboard combination to select all the files from this folder. Right click on the selectionand choose DeletePlease Confirm Multiple File DeleteNow you can close this window and open the temp folder from windows.Please go to Start and choose Run... , write c:\windows\temp\ and press OKOn this folder please delete all the files like you did on the above steps

Clean your temporary files Temporary files are created by many different programs. They use the temporary folder during the installation process and while they are running. These files supposed to be removed once the process is completed, but due to various reasons: unexpected shutdown, programming errors, corrupt installation, etc, they are left behind, wasting free space of your hard disk. The temporary folder is also the perfect hiding place for malicious files like viruses and spyware. From here they can spread infecting the whole computer. A periodical clean up of your temporary files will certainly improve your system performance. Clean your temporary files following these steps:

Please go to Start->All Programs->Accessories->System Tools and select System RestoreSelect Create a restore point and then click NextGive a name, for example maintenance and click on Create in order to continueAfter you receive the confirmation that the new restore point is created click Close to finis

Delete old system restore points System restore feature is enabled by default in your operating system and it provides you the possibility to restore your whole system to an earlier point in time. His purpose is to recover your system back to a point when you didn't encounter the issue. It has also a feature called system protection which creates system restore points each time when major changes are made in registry and system files. These restore points take a large portion of your disk space. Disk cleanup utility helps you gain this space back by deleting old system restore points, except the most recent one. Delete old system restore points following these steps:

Using CMD

Create a system restore point As a precaution measure we recommend to create a system restore point. If by any reason you don't agree with the new settings, you can easily use this system restore point to revert to your old settings. Create the system restore point following these steps:

Perform the following steps to assure a perfect working condition for your computer:

Using CMD

In the Command Prompt window please select, copy and paste the following command:%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exePlease press Enter to executeSelect Create a restore point and then click NextGive a name, for example maintenance and click on Create in order to continueAfter you receive the confirmation that the new restore point is created click Close to finis

In this window you can paste the commands

Write cmd and press ok

Periodical computer maintenance

Please open Internet Explorer, go to Tools button and select Internet OptionsIn the Internet Properties window please go Advanced tab and first click on the Restore advanced settings button and after on the Reset ... button.In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings window please read the information's and click on Reset buttonClick on the Close button to continueClick on the OK button to finish the procedure

Using Windows

Please go to Start and choose Control PanelIf Control Panel is on Category View please click on Switch to Classic View button to change it.In the Control Panel window double click on Internet Options iconIn the Internet Properties window please go Advanced tab and first click on the Restore advanced settings button and after on the Reset ... button.In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings window please read the information's and click on Reset buttonClick on the Close button to continueClick on the OK button to finish the procedure

Mozilla Firefox

Using Browser

Please open Mozilla Firefox, go to Help button and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled...Please confirm Firefox pop-up Make your settings and click on Make Changes and Restart

Using Windows

Please go to Start and choose Run ...Write firefox -safe-mode and press okMake your settings and click on Make Changes and Restart

Opera

Delete Private Data

Please open Opera, go to Menu button and select Delete Private Data... from SettingsClick on Detailed Options to see what to deleteMake your settings and click on Delete

Safari

Please open Safari, go to Menu button and select Reset Safari...Make your settings and then press Reset button in order to reset your Safari browser

Using Browser

Netscape

Using Browser

Please open Netscape, go to Tools button and select Clear Private Data... Ctrl+Shift+DelMake your settings and click on the Clear Private Data Now button in order to clear your private data.

Chrome

Clear browsing data

Open Chrome, go to Customize and control button, and select Clear browsing data... from Tools menuMake your settings and press Clear browsing data button in order to finish

Reset to default settings

In order to reset Chrome to default settings you need to rename or delete the Default directory from thefollowing path:C:\Documents and Settings\Win Xp\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User DataWhere “C:\” is the system partition and “Win Xp” the user namePlease perform the following steps:Replace in the path c:\ with your system partition and Win Xp with your current user name.Go to Start and choose Run...Insert your path and press OKIn User Data folder select Default directory, right click on it and choose RenameAfter you renamed the folder, for example Default.old, open Chrome.

Reset to default settings

In order to reset Opera to default settings you need to delete operaprefs.ini from your profile directoryPlease perform the following steps:Please open Opera, go to Menu button and select About Opera from HelpIn About Opera go to Preferences section, select the path without the file operaprefs.ini, right click on it andselect Copy After you have the path, to go directly to the file, go to Start and choose Run ...In the Run window right click and select Paste to copy the Preferences path Please press OK button to open the Preferences folderIn Opera folder please find and select operaprefs.ini file. Right click on it and select Delete.Please Confirm File DeleteTo finish please close Opera folder and restart Opera browser

Delete old windows update files

Windows update is a Microsoft feature with the purpose to keep your system up to date by offering you several patches, security updates, service packs and also new enhancements. This service scans your system and provides you the possibility to choose which updates to install. There is no need to worry, all offered updates are compatible with your system and all you need to do is to choose and start the installation process. Once the process is started it will perform the required steps in the background and you can go on using your computer without any interference. Some installed updates will require a system restart, if this is the case you will be prompted to restart your computer or you can postpone it. During update process, windows updates are first downloaded and then saved on your computer. When the process is completed these files remain on your computer reducing disk space. They can be deleted to gain more free space. Delete your old windows update files following these steps: